How to fly a Helicopter - The Basics

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For info on helicopter training in the UK visit: www.flyheli.co.uk
Disclaimer:
I am not a flying instructor so my video content is for pleasure only and not to be used for training as editing removes context. Be aware some flight-critical checks and radiotelephony may have been edited out but are always completed on the actual flight. All video content is my own, or it falls under KZbin's fair use policy and music used has been downloaded from either the KZbin music library or Epidemic Sound where I have a KZbin subscription!

[@dudley5658]

Thank you. All I need now is a helicopter.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Haha, unfortunately that's the hard part haha

[@DrummerDelight]

And 50-80 k training fees

[@michaelcarmean4906]

Helicopter 🚁 And 1000hrs Of Practice… It’s Not Like Riding A Bike

[@travelinben1966]

If you're not an instructor, you should be.Thanks for my first lesson!👌

[@michaelcarmean4906]

@@travelinben1966 I Flew Hughes 300’s In 1988 🚁 I Always Pay Attention To Detail

[@chrismaggio7879]

Well that was a clean and easy to follow lesson! Thank you. If I ever need to steal a helicopter I feel confident to do so, and I will even give you credit when the judge asks how I learned. :)

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks and no problem! Just skip that last bit haha.

[@keithjohnston5936]

I don’t see that ending well, but confidence has won the day in the past, so… It could happen. Thanks for the great lesson.

[@patbullard9276]

Except he didn’t cover the first part, starting and getting up to rpm. I tried stealing one once and failed because I couldn’t figure how to attach the rope to get it started.

[@TheMicroPilot]

@@patbullard9276 I’ll be doing a starting video soon.

[@chrismaggio7879]

@@patbullard9276 Pat! Thank you for that tip... I sure would have looked stupid asking someone in the hangar how. I better google it before I get there. It's a pull start, you say? Like my old fat tire minibike? Easy Peasy!

[@arctodussimus6198]

My uncle was a helicopter instructor for the Navy back in the early 1960’s. When I was 17 years old, I took a flight class and learned how to fly an airplane. I flew from Round Rock to Georgetown and back for a final grade. Soon as he learned that I could fly a plane, my uncle sat me down in a kitchen chair and taught me how to fly a helicopter. That was in 1976. This video just brought all that knowledge back to the front of my brain. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@CPTic19]

I just moved from g town. Looking to become an army pilot myself

[@GeraldNairn]

😊

[@OmniHeIix]

Anyone else go nuts that his door was open?

[@shannonak907]

I came here for this comment...and yes.

[@doug8718]

Door isn't a big deal. Pilot/co-pilot are strapped in. If it's hot outside, the ajar door ventilates the cockpit. We do the same thing with small airplanes while we're going through the checklist, taxiing, etc. The "before takeoff" checklist covers making sure the doors are shut.

[@B.Blackford.]

Greatest how to fly a helicopter video I’ve ever seen. 😎

[@roberttompkins9991]

Your a good teacher. Simple, basic, thoughtful, thorough, and well edited

[@joepie221]

Besides building museum quality miniature machinery, this is another item on my bucket list. No Doubt. Thanks for the look inside.

[@taco_supreme222]

No, thank you.

[@user-eu2nf5sn6g]

Ah yes, the “**in case i ever have to know how to do this**” type of video.

[@maddenhuxley2390]

I know I am kinda randomly asking but does anyone know a good place to stream newly released series online ?

[@nateholden7598]

@@maddenhuxley2390 Like anime?

[@TitanSound]

I have been meaning to come back to this video to thank you for a couple of weeks. I took my first flight in a chopper two weeks ago (An AugustaWestland 109). Despite being a helicopter fan for many years and flying plenty in games over the years, I never really understood exactly how they operated. Watching this video put my mind at ease as I had some anxiety, so thank you very much!

[@mgmrateconfirmation8404]

Finally someone did the explanation right.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Haha thanks!

[@DoRayMeFa]

Great video. Well explained and organized. Thanks!

[@barrycurtis843]

Brilliant, thank you. Just had my trial lesson. Another lesson on the way, hope I can continue to a licence!

[@ruffleschips9055]

Although I will never fly a helicopter, at least one of my lifetime curiosities has been settled. Thanks.

[@rockeysingh9663]

Thanks for a simple clear and easy to follow instructions- run through. You make it look so easy. Please keep these types of videos coming.

[@TheMicroPilot]

You're welcome and thanks for watching! More are on the way!

[@jumpseater2003]

Super awesome and detailed video. Thank you! Helicopters are my passion and I’m intrigued by the dynamics of it all!

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you and glad to hear it. Helicopter principles of flight are very interesting and the books will teach you somethings you never even considered.

[@alextulloh3618]

Brilliant video Tom. Very confident delivery!

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed!

[@h.ofl3503]

I started lesson about a month ago and love it. I was flying remote control Helicopter for years and made the jump to the real thing. I was amazed at how similar they are and having an idea of how things worked really helped out.

[@gibson5056]

CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY INFO ON HOW TO START HELICOPTER LESSONS OR LICENSING?

[@h.ofl3503]

@@gibson5056 I researched a few aviation schools that had helicopter in my area. There was one real close to me but the one I chose was a 45 minute drive because the instructor was one of the top rated in the country. I got my private V.F visual flying license just a week ago. It usually takes about 6 months but I had the time to take extra classes during the week so I was able to get all my flight hours in in a little over 4 months. To me the actual book part of it was a little harder. If you're really interested there's some great simulators for helicopters there's one that goes for about $800 and it's very realistic I'm not quite sure what the name of it is but again if you're doing a little research you'll find them. I'm going to buy my own but when I started off my instructor gave me one he never used and I put a lot of hours on it.

[@nevillecartwright7292]

Great video! I've often wondered about the controls of a helicopter. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheMicroPilot]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@Todd66]

That was easy and pleasing to watch. You make it look so effortless and simple.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you, very kind of you to say!

[@fatsdulange]

Thanks so much for the video. Growing up I wanted to fly a helicopter, but somehow never got an op. Did go up twice, both times a Hughes 500-D, but only as passenger. You've given me a new respect for helicopter pilots 🚁 and I thank you for that. Happy landings.

[@terminator6596]

As a fixed wing CFII I have always wondered about helps, but to everyone here, it takes a lot of time and training to get all three controls to work together, good video

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks :)

[@RtaniDean]

Oh yeah. Licensed, trained and time always makes it look easy. No delusion for me, but at least now I might be able to at least try to survive if I had too in an absolute emergency if in one and all was lost but a noble try. Aviating is so cool, especially to one who has this thing about heights. 😂. Yep- I’m not afraid to die, but the idea of falling is just out of sorts for me. Lol. Thx. Fly safe all.

[@rosettagray1227]

This guy explained everything very simple. Looks like fun.

[@TheSunseeker007]

RogerAlpha Bravo. Excellent and calmy explained . Understood Roger ready for take off !

[@omehenwanneka8953]

The lesson was quite precise, I'm confident now that I can fly the helicopter.....

[@LiquidSnakeSSJ4]

lmao if you think you can fly a helicopter after just watching a basic 11 minute video, you're mistaken. it's not that simple

[@suscat228]

Now just buy helicopter...

[@williamferguson3803]

You're kidding, right?

[@leedub8825]

Many thanks, natural trainer/instructor very clear step-by-step detail, thanks again you make me love flying helicopters.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Great to hear!

[@rafaelmadrigal9038]

Good training video. Thank you.

[@chuckw302]

I’ve been watching plenty of videos of how to fly a helicopter and really didn’t fully get the concept, but your video explains it best and I finally got it. Now I’m ready to go for me second lesson. Thank you sir!

[@TheMicroPilot]

Welcome, thanks!

[@bromrillis3566]

Your video answered a lot of questions that has puzzled me for ages. Thank you

[@TheMicroPilot]

No problem! There is a whole load more to it than what's in this video, they are very interesting things to learn about.

[@SC-vo6cx]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

[@user-wd1vd9du2q]

Absolutely great video!

[@Vd_prabhat]

Thanks for instructions...looks easy. I m gonna try now.

[@repairfreak]

I sure would love to go on a whirly-bird ride sometime. Have always been excited with choppers and the sound they make. Flying in or Piloting a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane while lifting something heavy would be most exciting, as well as an Apache and firing the guns. Both would be top tier experiences for me. 😎👍

[@James-qz2ny]

Thankyou. This will make my bucket list

[@BenjaminGonzalez-wv3cy]

Thank you for this wonderful and informative Video!

[@TheMicroPilot]

No problem :)

[@welderup6669]

EXCELLENT VIDEO THANKZZZ FOR SHARING!!!!

[@J.Arnold]

This was such a great video! Thank you!

[@hubercats]

Very nice video. Thank you!

[@petersymons2007]

Hi Tom thank you for taking the time to post this video - I need to book a trial lesson in 2022.

[@TheMicroPilot]

No problem at all! Yes you should, it’s a lot of fun!

[@markgriffiths4445]

Nice job Tom - you may not be an instructor but you have the right approach and demeanor to be one! I’ve always been fixed wing but would love to fly a helicopter one day. This just makes me want to do it more! Happy landings.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you Mark! Well hopefully after my CPL I shall start my instructors course.

[@markgriffiths4445]

@@TheMicroPilot It’s a great way to go. Flying is continuous learning of course, but you’ll learn so much from teaching and observing others. There’s the ‘white knuckle’ moments but there’s more ‘light bulb’ moments where you gain a deeper understanding of what you thought you already knew. Be kind, be calm, be FIRM.

[@at0mInc]

That was so cool! Thanks for the video.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Glad you liked it!

[@jericodawsonmarcos7529]

thanks for the basics this will.help me.understand it more for battlebit

[@nickdesaint4601]

Splendid! I always wondered. I did read a book about helos. It explained lift, yaw, pitch & roll but I never fully understood the concept till now. Thanks that was cool.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JohnonaBike]

That was really interesting thank you for sharing

[@RtaniDean]

Thank you for that. I had no idea. Now I do and it was cool. Perfect introduction instruction too. Thx again. Safe aviating bro! 😊

[@georgewilkinson6510]

Very interesting video. Thank you very much from 🇨🇦

[@TheMicroPilot]

Welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@joederochemont6219]

This was great. Thank you sir.

[@RM-lj8bv]

I've been in Helicopters five times in New York. Fabulous way to travel.

[@dougieladd]

Interesting lesson, thank you.

[@melissajoan1]

Nice job instructing , I'd love to learn to fly from you

[@magalion.6500]

Cool video.

[@evanwindom3265]

Nice, clear content. I would have liked to see more about power management.

[@welshpete12]

Very clear explanation . It looks so easy when you see a expert doing it . I think if it was me , and I'm a glider pilot . I would be all over the sky ! 😉

[@TheMicroPilot]

Haha thank you

[@BallsDeep189]

Nicely done 👍🏽 Greetings from one of the Helimed 72 pilots

[@TheMicroPilot]

Hi Mark! North West Air Ambulance is my absolute dream job as it's what got me into flying in the first place! If it would be possible to message you privately or do some filming with you that would be amazing?

[@thisisscotts]

I learnt how to fly (virtual) helicopters in a computer game called Rust. Turns out the controls with the mouse and keyboard basically line up with what you have demonstrated in this video... I would enjoy having a proper flight one day!

[@NGGaming1]

I had exactly the same idea😂😂😂😂 a fellow rust mini copter player here🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@thisisscotts]

@@NGGaming1 I'm sure we can totally do it mate! 😂

[@sanjivdhakal1686]

Thanks for the video.. now i am ready to fly the helicopter

[@llf8404]

Clear and simple explanation. Pretty sure there's more to the skill, still feel confident I could look for a place to land the aircraft if needed.

[@quantumjet253]

Watch the continual movement of his right hand on the stick. That was the most shocking for me during the few lessons I had; you are continually inputting tiny movements when hoovering and moving slowly. I described it to friends as feeling like you're controlling the most slippery vehicle imaginable. The other surprise for me was the delay on the controls and the way they catch up with your input, and it's also a little different with each control. On top of that as described in the video, when you push forward with the stick you need to counter the aircraft's yaw to the left by giving it a little right peddle (a phrase I heard so much I'm sure instructors must have nightmares around this phrase!). Hovering, as a learner, I used to describe to friends as being the hardest video game you'd never play! Interestingly, having only taken eight lessons, I never got to land. It's by far the best experience I've had, and while I never went any further I remember the experience like it happened last week; the lessons were over 13 years ago now. I described the overall experience as being the most incredible fairground ride imaginable.

[@zebsouth7734]

Great and informative video

[@fourgivedyakopu6840]

Best teacher ' made it very nice and simple ' for basics nice & simple

[@ukjjs1]

A very informative video for someone, me, looking to learn, thank you

[@TheMicroPilot]

No Problem, you're welcome!

[@jasonbelter3536]

Great video, thanks for sharing:)

[@dragonsofthesky7459]

Thank you mate 🚁 That was very interesting and informative 👍🏼

[@TheMicroPilot]

Welcome, thanks for watching!

[@stierrexcoc1826]

Great Video

[@rock3tcatU233]

Can you do one specifically for a UH-60 Blackhawk? We recently acquired some for free but we can't even figure out how to start them...

[@doktoronyx6619]

Just press start button. Do you need some spare parts too?

[@johnbattista9519]

.. the the optional sling for transporting camels underneath.

[@Agency-1001]

I love Helicopters & This Video did the job Thank you so much

[@TheMicroPilot]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@milsgarage]

Epic. Thank you! Subbed.

[@AtaTheKin]

you got one new subscriber here, this was so cool and easy to follow, love it

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed, have a look at some of my over vids 😀👍🏼

[@tubzvermeulen]

Thanks for the video

[@MickMichael007]

I enjoyed a helicopter ride over Niagara falls. I watched the pilot at the controls. I thought I could do this. WRONG!!!! The basics just scared the heck out of me! Great video!

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you, anyone can do it with the right training!

[@brian-te4xs]

I watched the video out of simple interest. I think he did an excellent job and very informative.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you, very kind of you to say!

[@RM-lj8bv]

Really great, I would love to fly one.

[@wingedbull1257]

That was the best I ever seen you did an excellent job.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you! More stuff on the way soon.

[@Denvermorgan2000]

Great video thanks I learned something!

[@TheMicroPilot]

You're welcome!

[@user-jk6oc7oh8c]

This is awesome. I've always dreamed of flying a helicopter. ❤

[@user-cm1fn2ss1i]

top tier video. seriously.

[@darksamurai25]

Thank you sir. Easily explained and I learnt alot.

[@TheMicroPilot]

You are welcome

[@Sandman.68.]

Awesome 👌👌as soon as my folks leave for aspen , I'm trying out his jet ranger , cheers bro 👍👍👍

[@tamjheedahmedsiddiky4199]

I like it. Thank you ♥

[@tracybenefield9028]

That was actually a great video. You explained it in a way that could be understood very easily Thanks for that. Looking forward to more videos.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you!! There is more good stuff on the way 😀

[@rhyspochin3228]

@@TheMicroPilot I'm looking at learning and getting my licence. Any recommendations on flight schools?

[@mikec9636]

Great video! It’s amazing how they fly and now I know why. Thanks 🙏🏻

[@HDJess]

Never flown a heli but it looks to be exactly as I'd imagined. You've got a joystick (sidestick) and "rudder" pedals, but instead of adjusting the thrust horizontally, you do it vertically in a heli.

[@shadanestewart2966]

thanks for the lesson

[@alanhannigan9944]

Heard from a Vietnam war helicopter pilot,he flew soldiers in and out of their AOO,he said on documentary that flying a helicopter was like walking down the stairs reading a book as you juggle,you made it look alot smoother ☘️🇮🇪

[@royskuderin2386]

I'm former U.S.A.F. in an Air Rescue unit during the Vietnam Era and piloting a helicopter like his is easy, try to handle a H-3 or an H-53.

[@halbutler4059]

Very much enjoyed this video. Wish I knew more about the gauges. Was difficult in places to understand the accent, but that's my fault. Look forward to more videos from you. Thanks

[@musoseven8218]

Thanks for keeping the videos coming, cheers me up no end! What was the fuel staining you were referring to? Did you have your door - fixed - open in the taxy phase? The skills you describe are not only muscle memory, but the four stages of learning; unconsciously unaware, consciously unaware, consciously aware, unconsciously aware (second nature/automatic).

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you, it's really kind of you to say! When the Carb is fully primed any excess fuel simply falls out onto the ground as it's an updraft carb meaning you can't flood the engine. Also yes, the door is open slightly kept from fully opening by a really high tech bit of kit (a string haha). The vents in the cabri aren't great so you can fly with the door slightly open or even completely off if you want.

[@musoseven8218]

Hi Tom, you're most welcome. Thanks for the reply and the info, really interesting stuff. The Cabri looks a very smart helicopter, but if string works for ventilation, K.I.S.S!

[@petersirag1925]

Top I love it and go for it soon

[@petecastle5762]

Cool video

[@Lucasbourgeois19]

Hey man, love the vids. New aviator here, would you think you'd be able to put some sort of overlay on your videos so that we could see torque, mast moment and pedal input? Thanks!

[@bcatypical]

Very interesting!

[@AmieAnderson-rw9lm]

I'm going on one this year with my family, I'm so excited! I'm never gonna watch Paw Patrol the same way again lol

[@BigMeachBoy412]

Easy Peasy think I might buy one!

[@regwatson2017]

Hi Tom. Great video and thank you. Have to ask - have you ever flown the Cabri PC Sim by VSkylabs in XPlane 11 ? If you have, how close (as a sim) does it come to the real thing ? Cheers Reg.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Hi Reg, thank you. No I haven't but from my experience, simulators (as good as they are), are never like the real thing. :)

[@MuntasirOhee]

Thanks for the tutorial, getting a helicopter soon

[@megafootyclips9457]

So cool, good man

[@danderibas2640]

I LEARNED A LOT THANKS

[@marcusmaximus451]

Superb piloting I’m impressed kind regards to you Mark from Billericay Essex 😀👍☀️🇬🇧

[@TheMicroPilot]

Welcome

[@dhiakhamis643]

Thanks sir 😀

[@JayOhBreezy]

Well that made it nice and simple and almost made me feel like I could hop right in one and do it.

[@cr0yd3]

Nice lesson and video. I’ll stick to flying my helo in GTA. One thing I’ve always wondered is what do you do if you have to touch a button on your display, wave to someone or scratch your nose?

[@Jay-ik1ge]

While in the Army I was a crew chief on a Huey. Over the years some pilots gave me the opportunity to get some stick time. Got fairly good at straight and level flight, but Texas wouldn’t be big enough for me to hover a helicopter.

[@Turner.1]

Thank you